A Zed and Two Noughts

Following a fatal car crash involving a swan outside a zoo, twin-brother zoologists Oliver and Oswald become fascinated by the processes of decay.

A car collides with a swan outside a zoo. Two women passengers die but the driver, Alba Bewick survives with a leg amputation. Obsessed with the accident, the zoologist husbands of the dead women – twins Oliver and Oswald – become fascinated by the processes of decay and embark on an affair with the amputee.

As dead animals decompose to the playful rhythms of Michael Nyman, symmetry is elevated beyond obsession, and Sascha Vierny’s cinematography pays homage to Vermeer. Full of surprises and magnificent conundrums, Peter Greenaway’s third feature is as perversely comic and teasing as it is shocking.

Special features

  • Full feature commentary with director Peter Greenaway.
  • Video introduction by Peter Greenaway (7 min).
  • Extracts from O, Zoo! (Philip Hoffman, 1986, 7 min).
  • Original theatrical trailer (3 min).
  • The Sea in Their Blood (Peter Greenaway, 1983, 28 min) – rarely seen COI film exploring Britain’s coastline, with music by Michael Nyman.

Product information

    • Certificate

      15

    • Colour

      Colour

    • Sound

      Sound

    • Running time

      117mins

    • Original aspect ratio

      1.66:1 (16x9 anamorphic)

    • Blu-ray region

      • B - Includes most European and Middle-Eastern countries, all of Africa, Australia and New Zealand

    • Catalogue number

      BFIB1061

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